Dallas Doings

Compiled by Sharon Wisch-Ray and Rachel Gross Weinstein

Michael Ellentuck will speak at LeadingAge conference

Not many people can say they’ve spent 40 years in one industry. Michael Ellentuck, president of The Legacy Senior Communities, can make that claim. As an expert on senior housing and services, Ellentuck has immersed himself in the fast-paced changing environment of senior living to determine how to serve the ever-changing senior. “My goal is to enhance the quality of life as people go through the aging process,” said Ellentuck. “I try to think of what challenges and opportunities I will face and the services I will desire. I think of myself when I look at older adults. They’re just like me, except I’m not yet at that point in my life.” Ellentuck is spending his time researching and thinking about how he can accommodate the growing number of seniors. He will share ideas with others in the industry when The Legacy Willow Bend hosts the first meeting of the prestigious 2014 LeadingAge Leadership Academy class. He will also speak at a breakfast during LeadingAge’s highly respected national conference in Dallas next week, Oct. 27-30. “Our industry is about to go through a dramatic change. I think we will see more changes over the next 10 years then I have seen since our industry began almost 50 years ago,” he said. “The next generation of seniors won’t accept aging in the way the current or prior generations accepted the idea of growing old.” While Ellentuck contemplates how to position his organization to meet the changing demands of seniors, he is currently analyzing the current gaps in services that will need to be provided. “Since the number of Texans with Alzheimer’s is more than 340,000 and that number is rapidly increasing, there is a strong need for memory care,” said Ellentuck. “We have also noticed a demand for a rental model on the independent living side. We are hoping to address those needs in the near future. We are also looking at how our organization can expand our services, be more community based and use technology to help people age in place. The way we care for seniors 30 or 50 years from now will be completely different than what we provide today.” Dottie Garment (far right) and her daughter Shelley Byers (left) were on hand when Chase Bank presented “mortgage free” keys to a home for this worthy veteran family.

JWVA helps out veteran and his family

LuAnn Bergman wrote to us recently, “The ladies of the JWVA are always looking to make wishes come true for our veterans and their families. “Our auxiliary member, Dottie Garment, was recently contacted by a social worker at the VA Hospital requesting that we assist a veteran and his family. The disabled veteran was chosen to receive a mortgage free house by Chase Bank. We were asked to assist the family with furnishings for their new home. This veteran is attending school to become a respiratory therapist. His wife is working while he attends school and will complete her education when he graduates. “Dottie Garment and her daughter Shelley Byers, who is also a member of JWVA, met the family, shopped and purchased a bedroom set for their son. The ladies also made a contact with an individual who graciously donated a dining room set and a desk and chair to the family. Dottie and Shelley were invited to attend the presentation of the keys to the house by Chase Bank. “The family of five was so thrilled to have a new home and a table large enough to have a big Thanksgiving dinner together this year. “This is a beautiful family who is on the road to a good life. We are happy to be a part of this great mitzvah. “This is just another example of what our auxiliary does for our veterans and their families.” If you would like to be a part of this wonderful organization, please contact membership chairperson Lynn Teitelbaum at 972-233-8937.

Book Fest starts on a high note

The Aaron Family JCC’s Book Fest kicked off on Oct. 16 with author Marcia Clark, who spoke about her new book, “Killer Ambition.” In the novel, Los Angeles Special Trials prosecutor Rachel Knight and detective Bailey Keller find themselves at the epicenter of a combustible, high-profile court case when the daughter of a billionaire Hollywood director is found murdered. Clark has much knowledge of this topic — she became a prosecutor in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office in 1981 and spent 10 years in the special trials unit, where she handled many high-profile cases like the O.J. Simpson trial and the prosecution of stalker/murderer Robert Bardo. Clark still practices law today as an appellate attorney. “Killer Ambition” is fiction, but Clark said some of the characters are loosely based on people she knows. A lot of the places mentioned in the book are also real sites in LA. The novel is the third in a series and Clark is currently working on another one. Joy Tipping of the Dallas Morning News led the discussion and asked Clark various questions about the story and her characters, and the Simpson trial. That was followed by a question-and-answer session with Clark, and a book signing. Book Fest continued on Oct. 22 with Naomi Ragen, who discussed her book, “The Sisters Weiss.” The rest of the schedule is as follows:

Mon., Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.- “Dan Gets a Minivan” with author Dan Zevin

Tues., Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.- “A Guide for the Perplexed” with author Dara Horn. This event is also the annual Community Read, hosted by the Tycher Library of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.

Thurs., Nov. 21 at 6:45 p.m.- “Art and Sole” with author Jane Weitzman. This event will take place at Neiman Marcus at Northpark Mall and all proceeds from the tickets and book sales will benefit breast cancer support services at Jewish Family Service.

Sun., March 2 at 11 a.m.- “The Wanting” with author Michael Lavigne. This event is also the annual Spring Read, hosted by the Tycher Library of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.

Tickets and RSVP are required at each event. Cost is $10, but the “Polly’s Pipers” event, the Community Read and the Spring Read are free. Tickets for the evening with Jane Weitzman are $36, or the ticket and book can be purchased together for $54. For more information about Book Fest and to RSVP, contact Rachelle Weiss Crane at 214-239- 7128 or rweisscrane@jccdallas.org, or visit www.jccdallas.org. The artwork of Lynn Baskind (left) and Helene Blumenau is on display at the Renner Frankford Library through Nov. 5. | Photo: Submitted by Diane Hovav

Press Notes

Lynn Baskind and Helene Blumenau are art buddies. They paint across the studio table at J’s Art. Their colorful but very different artworks are now showing in the exhibit room at Renner Frankford Library in Far North Dallas. Lynn’s dramatic African totems and platters contrast with Helene’s vivid collages in an engaging and colorful display. This inviting exhibition is up until Nov. 5.

Area Chabad Centers will present “Life in the Balance: Jewish Perspectives on Everyday Medical Dilemmas.” Modern medicine has brought us near miracles. It’s also brought us some of the most difficult decisions we’ll ever have to face. Are we obliged to prolong life even at the cost of terrible suffering? Should we legalize the sale of organs, such as kidneys, to save the lives of transplant patients? May a woman with a multiple-fetus pregnancy opt for fetal reduction, thus forfeiting the lives of some to possibly save others? When it seems that every available option is morally questionable, how do we decide? There are a number of options for the six-week course: Sundays (starting Oct. 27) from 9:30-11 a.m. or Tuesday evenings (starting Oct. 29) from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Lang Chabad Center in Plano; and Thursday evenings (starting Oct. 31) from 7:30-9 p.m. at Chabad of Dallas. There are also classes at the Chabads of Fort Worth and Arlington. For more information or to register, visit myjli.com.